On Saturday, 6 July, the leaders of the 11 largest emerging economies gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Summit, culminating in the signing of a landmark Joint Declaration titled “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”

Hosted by Brazil under its 2025 BRICS presidency, the summit marked the first gathering since the bloc’s expansion in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, alongside founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

The declaration reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to multilateralism and equitable global governance, outlining over 120 cooperative initiatives across climate, finance, health, and technology. Leaders called for reforms to institutions like the IMF and UN to give developing countries greater representation and launched new initiatives, including a partnership to address health inequality and a collective push for ethical AI governance.

Total Media Cast (TMC) provided on-ground coverage from the summit venue, with its Latin America team delivering live stand-ups, ENG footage, and daily news packages. TMC’s presence ensured global audiences had access to key updates from inside the summit — from signing ceremonies to behind-the-scenes diplomacy — underscoring its continued commitment to covering transformative events that shape the Global South’s future.